Mail-bag



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1. S. S TR A U S S.

, Mail Bag. No. 235,059. Patented Nov. 30,1880.

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rLPETEKs. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON. D CA (No Model.) 2Sheets'-Sheet2.

S. S T R A U S S.

Mail Bag.

No. 235,059. Patented Nov. 3o, 1880.

N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGHAPHER, WASNXNBTON` D C- NTTnD STATES PATENTFries.,

SAMUEL STRAUSS, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,059, dated November30, 1880.

Application filed October 6, 1880.

To alt whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S'rRAUss, a citizen ot' theUnited States,residing at Chattanooga, Hamilton county, Tennessee, have invented newand useful Improvements in h/Iail-Bags, of which the following is aspecitication.

My invention relates to certain new and use-v t'nl improvements inmail-bags, with special reference to closingand securely fastening theopen or mouth end.

Prior to my invention very many ways have been devised and suggested forclosing the ordinary leather and canvas bags for transportation; but Ibelieve that the most practical device, and the one in most general useby the Government, consists of a bag having one half of its .body orsides extending` slightly above or beyond the other, to form a tlapdesigned lo turn over and upon the shorter side, and there secured inposition to close the bag by providing the long side with a series ofmetallic staples, and the short side with a corresponding number otleyes, which are preferably metallic bound, and passing a strap from oneAfixed .point through the staples and securing the end over anotherstaple on the same side by a suitable mail-lock, as will be readilyunderstood by those familiar with the postal service and theconstruction of pouches therefor. While this construction is, perhaps,the most reliable now known or in use, it involves expensiveconstruction, and greatly increases the weight of the pouch. Another andperhaps more serious objection to the bags of this class, in View of thenecessity for rapid handling of mail-matter under the present postalrequirements', is the time involved in threading the securing-strapthrough so many staples and adjusting and locking the end in place.

The object of my invention is to overcome all of these disadvantages andprovide a mailbag economical of construction, light, and adapted to beclosed and locked with great celerity; and with these ends in View my1nvention consists of a mail bag or pouch composed of suitable flexiblematerial, and hav ing its open or mouth end adapted to be closed byfolding the corners thereof over at an angle tothe sides, and so as toslightly overlap at a point about central of the sides or walls, and

(No model.)

to be then folded longitudinally about centrally of the angle made infolding the corners, the corners and central top portion being' providedwith eyes or holes,and the whole secured in position by a single stapleand lock, as will be hereinafter and in detail set forth.

ln order that. those skilled in the art to which my invention appertainsmay fully understand how to make and use my invention, I will proceed todescribe the construction and the system ot' folding necessary toaccomphsh the result desired, referring by letters to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a bag embracing myinvention in one form, and attened at its open end preparatory toclosing the same; Fig. 2, a similar view with one corner turned overinto position; Fig. 3, a similar view with both corners turned over; Fig4, a similar view showing the upper end turned over horizontally andover the previously-folded corners, and secured by a single staple andlock; Fig. 5, al vertical central section taken at the line x x of Fig.4;, Fig. 6, a perspective view similar to Fig. l, but with the mouthslightly distended, and showing the staple secured on the inside andnear the top edge ot' the back portion of the bag; Fig'. 7, a sectionsimilar to Fig. 5 of the folded and locked bag when the staple isarranged as seen in Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a plan view of a modiiied form ofbag with the two corners turned over; Figs. 9 and 10, plan views ot' twoother modifications; and Fig. l1, a similar view showing the horizontalflap (seen at Fig. l0) turned over preparatory to folding, as is done inthe other forms; and Fig. l2 is a similar view of a bag the mouth ofwhich is straight, and with the corners turned over somewhat fartherthan in the other forms, so as to oveilap; and Fig. 13, a similar viewof the form of bag shown atFig. 12, with the final horizontal fold madeand secured by a staple and lock.

I have taken pains to illustrate allot' the modilications, in order thatthe gist of my invention may be more fully comprehended and notconfounded with or limited by any particular configuration of the edgesof the mouth, and in order that it may be understood that it isimmaterial, so far as the scope of my invention is concerned, whetherthe staple is riveted to the back or front of the bag, as it may projectthrough and be riveted to the front, as shown at Fig. l, or to the backand project forward, as shown at Fig. 6, or in any other manner whichwill adapt it to use in the desired manner.

Where the staple is secured as shown at Fig. l the upper corners of thebag are provided with eyelets or holes a, cut horizontally andcoincident when thebag is attened, as shown, and the front and backareprovided with similar eyelets or holes b near the upper edge, cutvertically, so that when the corners are turned over, as shown at Figs.2 and 3, the eyelets a a will pass freely over the staple c, and whenthe end is turned over on the dotted line d d, Fig. 3, and into theposition shown at Fig. 4, the eyelets b will also freely pass over thesame staple, so that they may be all secured by a single lock, c.

In Figs. l to 5 the upper edge of the bag is iattened and cut on acurve, so that the corners will project, as clearly shown, and enablethem to freely overlap when turned over at an angle to the sides, asshown more particularly at Figs. 2 and 3. When the staple is secured asshown at Fig. 6 the upper, central, and vertical eyelet, b, at thatpoint on the back of the bag is of course dispensed with, and additionalVertical eyelets f are provided at the point occupied by the staple, asshown at Fig. 1, so that when folded over from each side andhorizontally, as explained before, the staple c will pass through allthe eyelets from front to rear, and be fastened by a lock on the back,as shown at Fig. 7.

At Fig. S I have shown the material cut away slightly, as seen at g,which serves to avoid one thickness of material at the point Where thestaple passes through all the eyelets.

At Fig. 9 l have shown the front and back portions of the bag cut awaycentrally at the upper edge, as shown at h, the dotted lines showing thefolds and top edges of the bag.

At Figs. 10 and 1l l have shown the ordinary iiap 'a' turned overhorizontally', with horizontal and vertical eyelets so arranged thatwhen the mouth is folded a single staple will secure them all.

From each and all of the constructions shown and described it will beseen that bythe two oblique side folds and the single horizontal foldthe mouth of the bag :is eifectually closed, and that a single 4stapleis all that is necessary, and that no threading or lacing strap isrequired, and the operation of closing and locking` the mouth may beexpeditious, while at the same time all unnecessary' Weight is avoidedand all unwarranted ingress to the bag absolutely guarded against.

When the bags are manufactured they should be folded or creased, asindicated by dotted lines in the several figures, to aid in determiningwhere the folds should be made when using the bag; and it is obviousthat continued use of the bag tends to facilitate the said foldingoperation as it becomes soft land limp at such localities.

It will also be observed that the necessary arrangement ofthe holes oreyelets is such that they occupy the proper relative positions to beused as the means for supporting thel oags upon the usual hooks employedfor keeping them open while beinglled at post-oiices.

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A mail-bag having its month end provided with horizontal and verticaleyelets, and a single centrally-arranged stapleand creased or adapted tobe folded, as described, the eyelets and staple bearing such relation toeach other that all the eyelets shall pass over the staple,

whereby the mouth may be secured in a closed condition with a singlelock, and Without the employment of a lock-strap, as hereinbefore setforth.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SAML. STRAUSS.

WVitnesses:

ALLEN U. BURNS, N. H. McQUAnE.

